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Wind Power News: South Carolina
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Interior Department opens wind energy review for North Myrtle Beach
The U.S. Interior Department announced Monday it will include North Myrtle Beach in new reviews to determine whether wind energy should be developed in federal waters along South Carolina’s coast. “Bring it on, bring them windmills on in here,” said Marc Jordan, president of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, which along with the North Strand Coastal Wind Team has promoted wind energy development for several years. “We took it from what we thought was a pretty outlandish idea, . . . Complete story »
Plenty of questions remain about impact of wind turbines off South Carolina coast
I read your editorial in The Sun News on Sept. 27 on offshore wind turbines and would like to offer our viewpoint. First, the Town of Pawleys Island’s Resolution you referred to was passed in November of 2014 and specifically supported the efforts of North Myrtle Beach in its efforts to solicit wind turbines off of its shoreline. We continue to support those efforts. Second, there was a meeting of the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management South Carolina Task . . . Complete story »
Council: No oil rigs or wind turbines
Pawleys Island Town Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing offshore drilling at its monthly meeting on Sept. 14, but they didn’t stop there. Proposed coastal wind turbines were also met with opposition among council members. After attending the Pawleys Island Civic Association meeting on Sept. 5 and hearing from property owners who opposed offshore drilling, Mayor Bill Otis Jr. drafted the resolution and submitted it for council’s approval. Otis called a bill in Congress that would allow drilling 12 miles . . . Complete story »
Plans for construction of turbines for wind energy raises concerns in South Carolina
LITCHFIELD BEACH, S.C. – Developing wind energy off the South Carolina coast is not as simple as putting up a wind turbine and running a power line to shore. Regulators say the impacts of the industry on everything from marine creatures to what the giant turbines would look like from shore must be considered. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has identified almost 1,200 nautical square miles in four tracts off the coast that have the potential to be leased . . . Complete story »
Tracts identified for wind energy leasing off South Carolina
While it will be years before any wind turbines go up offshore, regulators have identified almost 1,200 nautical square miles off the South Carolina coast that have the potential to be leased for the development of wind energy. Officials with the federal Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management told members of the South Carolina Renewable Energy Task Force on Wednesday that they are publishing the maps in the Federal Register as the first step in seeking comment on the proposal. . . . Complete story »
Rep. Jeff Duncan takes issue with migratory bird protections
The bald eagle and countless other species of birds are protected by a century-old federal law that a South Carolina congressman is trying to alter. Bird conservation groups are horrified. The National Audubon Society, among others, is fighting the appropriations bill amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C. A Duncan staffer said the amendment is designed to promote wind energy production, aimed at eliminating penalties for accidental bird deaths such as from wind turbine blades. The thing is, the . . . Complete story »
Environment: Offshore wind plans focus on north coast
North Myrtle Beach is embracing the potential of offshore wind energy while residents of Pawleys Island worry about the visual pollution of windmills in the ocean, a Coastal Carolina University oceanography professor told members of the Winyah Sierra Club this week. Dr. Paul Gayes, head of the Center for Marine and Wetland Studies at Coastal Carolina, said population trends are signaling the need for more energy demand. “The north end of the Grand Strand wants this thing; the south end . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind energy taking the next steps in South Carolina
CONWAY – The next step in North Myrtle Beach’s years-long drive to become the offshore wind energy capital of South Carolina will begin next month, when Coastal Carolina University, the University of South Carolina and others begin the work to label areas in the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina as good and not-so-good for the development of wind energy farms. Paul Gayes, director of the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies at Coastal Carolina University, said Wednesday the . . . Complete story »
Windmills are high in price, low in effectiveness
The headline said it all: “South Carolina’s Wind Power Lies Offshore.” Since Obama – Democrats (never separate the two) gained power in 2008, I’ve had frequent opportunities to observe wind-power, as windmills sprouted like weeds across this nation. I’ve even seen them hauled by trucks on our interstates and from 35K feet in neat lines, standing still or barely moving. The article’s cover picture got it right: They don’t move. Maybe that one was rotating, but I’ve counted them, standing . . . Complete story »
SCGA passes resolution to promote wind energy
The South Carolina General Assembly has passed a resolution to promote wind energy through local governments. The resolution recognizes the fact that South Carolina is a prime candidate for wind energy. North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce leaders say the organization has been a long time advocate for the resolution. The resolution states that the state should partner with local governments for economic development groups and private companies to bring clean energy to the state. “The end game goal would . . . Complete story »
